The sophomore running back was given the award at the team’s annual banquet, held Sunday on campus. The trophy is named after former UM coach and athletics director Jack Harding.

Walton earned the nod after rushing for 1,065 yards and 14 touchdowns on 192 carries, all career bests. He enters the Dec. 28 Russell Athletic Bowl against West Virginia needing four yards to match Danyell Ferguson (1,069) for eighth in UM single-season history. With 135 yards, he could match Clinton Portis (1,200) for sixth.

Walton, who also recorded a receiving touchdown, has the third-highest single-season touchdown total (15) in school history. After putting up 10 as a freshman, he sits tied for 10th in career touchdowns.

Walton, who finished the regular season fourth in the ACC in rushing yards, is likely to be the conference’s only 1,000-yard running back returning in 2017.

He also had the No. 1 play in Miami’s top-10 countdown: his 55-yard touchdown run against Pittsburgh on Nov. 5. See below for a full list of top plays, with highlights.

1. Mark Walton rushes 55 yards to the endzone to give Miami a 51-28 lead over Pittsburgh.

16:15 mark:

Author: Matt Porter

Matt Porter grew up in Gloucester, Mass., graduated from Emerson College and worked for the Boston Globe before joining the Post in 2009. He covers the University of Miami and college sports, and pitches in on coverage of South Florida sports teams including the Miami Heat and Miami Marlins.
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